Claire paced the hall in agitation. At her best she had never been patient in nature but as nervous as she was now the forced wait was only irritating her more. Her nerves were rubbed raw but she was trying desperately to maintain her composure. She needed this job. Needed it in the worst way. Working at Jacks little a vaunt guard gallery these past few months had been fun, but it was doing precious little to get her foot in the right doors. Sure she was meeting truckloads of incredible artists, but they were all of the starving variety. Claire had had her fill of that and then some. She left her tiny town to escape the days of Ramen noodles and Bologna sandwiches not wallow in them even deeper. She needed the clout and the currency that came with a position in a respected auction house if she was ever going to get anywhere other then coffee shops and poetry readings. Besides which, things with Jack were starting to get messy. She liked him well enough and all things considered he was one of her better lays, but he was starting to see rings and babies where Claire still saw open spaces. It was time to move on and she knew it, but it was hard to follow through when she spent most of her free time with him at the gallery.
Claire forced herself to smile as a seemingly endless stream of impeccably clad assistants drifted in in and out of the surrounding offices. She allowed herself a fateful moment to check her reflection in the glass of a painting and knew instantly that she was dressed entirely wrong. Her fitted black slacks, heeled boots and cranberry silk shirt stood out like a sore thumb amidst the tailored suits and stiletto heels that continued to pass her by. She was to curvy. To funky. To something... feeling even more nervous then before she flopped herself into a chair only to hear the gentle sound of her name being called.
“ Mr. Edwards will see you now.” and with a flourish the secretary opened the heavy mahogany doors leading into the office.
Claire gave herself a brief pep talk, reminding herself that she had every right to be interviewing for the position and that the blonde Barbie doll of a secretary was probably there to give the old man head when he got tense so she shouldn’t be concerned by her. Her courage fortified enough to allow her to walk and she strode boldly into the office and found herself face to face with Davis Edwards. He had his eyes fixed on the monitor in front of him and glanced up briefly as she entered, waving her in with an impatient hand. Claire realized with a shock how young he was. Young and handsome. Maybe early thirties she thought. He was clean shaven with a full head of thick dark hair and slightly olive skin and he obviously worked out. Beneath the crisp linen of his shirt Claire could easily see the taut lines that defined his arms and chest. He was tall, probably around six foot two, and his voice was dark and smoky as he dealt with the person on the other end of the video conference.
Edwards glanced up long enough to give her the once over and show her what she thought were the most stunning silvery gray eyes she had ever seen. He didn’t give her much of a look but motioned to a chair for her to sit. Claire tried not to fidget as she looked him over, but there was something about him that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. There was an electricity to him, a magnetism. Claire studied the long taper of his thick fingers as he punched up information on the keyboard. The hands were smooth, and the nails manicured, nothing like the hands of the other men she had known. There were no traces of dirt or paint or clay. No calluses or patches of dry skin. She noted absently that no rings adorned the fingers and then wondered at herself for paying attention.
After what seemed to Claire an eternity Davis Edwards finally stood up to greet her. He extended his hand across the dark wood desk and apologized for making her wait.
“ It’s an unfortunate circumstance of my position.” he explained. “ Even when I clear my schedule I’m still to busy to keep my appointments.”
His laugh was soft and rich and Claire found herself almost giggling as she reached across to shake his hand. She felt her face flush as their hands touched. There was that current again. An energy passing from this man to her that made her shiver. She pulled her hand away abruptly and to quickly dropped down into her seat again. Edwards paged his secretary through the intercom and asked her to hold all calls, then looking up at Claire again asked if she would like a drink. Claire shook her head, although she would have gladly taken a strong glass of wine right then to quiet her nerves. Edwards retrieved her file from the top of his desk and looked it over, glancing from the pages of the application to Claire and back. He pulled softly on his lower lip as he read and Claire found herself absolutely transfixed by the gesture. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat realizing with a start that he was turning her on! Something about his long fingers tugging against the soft fullness of his lips was making Claire squeeze her thighs together keep the fire that had suddenly sprung from her clit under control.
Absently she began tugging at the buttons of her shirt, instinctively trying to get a little air. She had just pulled another button open as he sat down in the chair opposite her and she was painfully aware that with every shift of her body he would be getting an eyeful of her cleavage.
“ Am I making you nervous Claire?” he asked gently
Claire tittered. “ Oh no, no of course not. I just seem to be having some trouble with my button.” She knew as soon as the words left her lips how incredibly silly she had sounded and began frantically trying to get the button refastened only to find her fingers were trembling to much to work.
Edwards was walking deliberately towards her as she fumbled with the button. He smelled, musky and exotic, like some incredible erotic incense. The closer he got the harder it became for Claire to concentrate on the button.
“ I think I do make you nervous.” he said with a slight laugh.
He reached out with one hand and stopped her work at the button. In one quick feline motion he was down in front of her pushing her hands softly to her side.
“ Why don’t you let me have a try. You don’t seem to be able to get it to work.” he said as his hands reached toward the delicate fabric. The long fingers found the button and the button hole and he leaned in slightly as he took them in hand. Claire felt her pulse fluttering in her chest and in spite of herself closed her eyes to drink in the aroma of him so tantalizingly close. She didn’t notice him put the file folder on the floor as he reached a finger out to trace a line down her throat to her breastbone. She shivered again as he made contact with her skin, and cursed the slight moan that escaped her lips. With one quick tug he pulled against her shirt and the neat little row of buttons popped open revealing the black lace bra beneath. She kept her eyes closed, her breathing shallow as his finger again traced a line across her chest and with painful slowness across the tops of her breasts.
“ Black lace lingerie seems a bit inappropriate to wear to a job interview Claire.”
His voice was huskier now and very close to her ear but Claire could still not bring herself to open her eyes. The logical part of her brain knew she should get up, knock this guy on his ass and leave, but that damn tension she had felt at their first touch held her firm.
